December 17, 2011

Walking in the Air

I was reading the Guardian this evening when I saw a small feature about the ten best Christmas songs. Clicking on the link, I recognized all of the songs, except one.

It’s called “Walking in the Air” and it didn’t sound like any Christmas song that I was familiar with. It’s from the 1982 short animated film, “The Snowman”, based on Raymond Briggs’s book, The Snowman. It’s the story of a young boy who builds a snowman, and at the stroke of midnight, the snowman comes to life. They have adventures until the sun rises and the snowman melts. The film is silent except for the song, “Walking in the Air”, a haunting and lovely song. The film is shown every Christmas season in the UK, and it has been shown in the US, as well. But it’s not in our pantheon of classic Christmas songs or movies, like Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

It’s a lovely little piece, and I hope you take a few minutes to watch and listen. The song is just beautiful and a little melancholy.

I had forgotten about this lovely song. My husband will not be home for Christmas so it brought some tears while watching it. Here is my all time favorite British Christmas song and video..."Wish I had a home for Christmas."http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yC-tLBSDeA

So utterly charming! I adored the singers voice and the animation of the film. All new to me and I thank you so much for sharing this very sweet piece. I intend to save it and will watch it again and again. The song IS indeed a bit haunting....all the better!

I had never heard "Walking in the Air" until I lived in London and actually lived in the very same building as Howard Blake, the composer. I very quickly discovered what a big deal the song is in England and I will never forget how I stuck my foot in my mouth when my landlady told me who one of my neighbors was!

Granted, not a song the choir belts out at church after Joy to the World, but it is my all-time favorite Christmas song nonetheless. So mysterious- it always reminds me of how I felt as a child on Christmas Eve. It's the song you play where you're alone in front of the fire late at night with no lights except the Christmas tree, a hot toddy and the dog lying on your feet.

My children and I have loved the video and music all these many years. What a shame someone has replaced Peter Auty singing the song on this video. I suggest downloading the original song from iTunes. It's absolutely beautiful.

About Me

Pigtown Design is the musings of Meg Fairfax Fielding, a Baltimore-based writer, photographer and fund-raiser, who explores design, architecture, culture, and current events in Baltimore and around the world.